Northants chief executive Smith threatens players with County Ground axe

The County have suffered five successive defeats – three of which have been by an innings and one by nearly 300 runs – in the LV= County Championship Division One.

The latest loss came against Yorkshire this week, and it prompted Smith to make those who are not performing aware they will face the axe unless things improve dramatically.

He said: “The level of performance is just not acceptable and the players are letting themselves down.

“It’s the way we’re losing games that I’m worried about as we’re surrendering.

“They (the players) say that they understand the challenges of division one cricket, but they obviously don’t.

“The same players are making the same mistakes and it can’t go on.”

“The teams we’re playing against aren’t carrying players but we are, and the bottom line is that there are individuals who don’t match the ambition of the club and board and they’ll be leaving.”